how do you make ecovers?

[Jobsande]

Hey quick question, I already have an ebook... I've been dying to find out HOW DO I MAKE AN ECOVER? I'd like to have a professional looking one, y'know, the ones that look like real books that most people use.

I'd prefer to find a free or very cheap program if possible. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Jordan

[JeffMitchell]

If you are Just looking to one cover for one ebook you can get it as cheap as $99 at dynamic covers but two covers $170 and three covers at $350. Not bad because it helps your ebook convert 10x over. Plus it really makes it nice if you want to put your ebook up on ebay or any other auction sites.

Jeff

[Buildingfutures]

I use the program Cover Expert. Its great with premade objects, you just need to make the texture for the front.

[Anthony Robinson]

There's also some software put out by Laughing Bird Software that's inexpensive and allows you to create ecovers for books, software, membership cards, etc. I've used it and had pretty good results; plus I think the owner is a fellow warrior. I know there are plenty of people who will design them for you but if you're just starting out you'd probably be better off to do it yourself and save some cash. Once you've got some cash coming in, you can outsource anything you think will make you more productive.

[Afton Davies]

Hi Jordon

You have a number of choices.

Box Shot 3D
eCover Creator
True Boxshot
Box Cover Maker 3D

You can also find actions that work in Photoshop that will make the eCover for you.

I have all of the products listed above and I own Photoshop so I can make nifty ecovers for ebooks.

If you don't want to make one yourself, drop me a note and we can come to some type of arrangement were I will make one for you.

Peace

[LeapingHorse]

look for "alexandre valois" on this forum. He does quality work for cheap. His site is Alexandre Valois' Web Design and Ecover Clinique

[minisite911]

well, unless you have a good taste of design, it might be good if you learn how to do it, especially when you're planning to create lots of it in the future.
If that's not the case, I suggest you just order from service provider.

You might wanna see my sig

Cheers,
Oki

[abuhakim]

Originally Posted by Jobsande

Hey quick question, I already have an ebook... I've been dying to find out HOW DO I MAKE AN ECOVER? I'd like to have a professional looking one, y'know, the ones that look like real books that most people use.

I'd prefer to find a free or very cheap program if possible. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!

Jordan

I've found that you get what you pay for. The "Free" and "cheap" produce more or less generic looking ebook covers. Mostly it;s because they're just using old book style templates.

Since I'm a web-designer, I have access to Photoshop and a bunch of Action eBook Action Scripts. When I don't feel like designing a layout from scratch, I use a program called Extreme 3D Covers.

It comes complete with ebook, box, cd, PC screen templates. You basically format a graphic for size and paste it on. The software created the 3D, shadows, reflections etc.

[Quentin]

I have a free photoshop action and a tutorial for you at Video Tutorials | Photoshop Tutorials and Downloads

Quentin

[pleyez89]

nice question. i also have a problem with that case.

[Solidsnake]

This is also the question I want to ask and thanks for the responses...

[Mubarak Waseem]

I can make eBooks and covers and boxes at s very cheap $20 a pop. I can also do cards, vista boxes, spiral ewbook, ebook stacks! You name it! Please PM for more details. Discounts for multiple buys!

[GoGetta]

I use photoshop for the ecover design. I have also managed to find a free templete ecover to place it on but I can't remeber the URL, I will try to find it!

GoGetta

[Legion]

The BEST and FREE software avaibable.... yourself and your imagination.

1) Get an eBook from google images which you like the shaping of.

2) Use the polygon selection tool to black out the book in the image.

3) do your own design either over the top of it, or seperately, then use Photoshops Transform tool to make it fit the shape of the ebook.

4) Duplicate layer ---> free transform ---> flip vertical ---> gradient to add a reflection.

5) New layer ---> polygone selction ---> fill black + black outer glow ---> lower ocupacity for shadow.

Simple and 1,2,3,4,5 lol.

Or you could just get in touch with me, because I am a great Designer, and I will do it for you CHEAPER than anyone else on the internet....

I heard a guy saying $99.... I will do you it for: $30!!!

Why? Because I need Testimonials and Examples of my work for my online design company which will be launching Late January 2009.

Get in touch if anybody wants professional custom eBook covers for ONLY $30!!!

All the best,

Legion.

[BIG Mike]

We've got an inexpensive program that does a really nice job for those who don't own or have trouble using Photoshop. It also does an excellent job when making headers and other types of images

GFX Writer V2.0 Header Creator | Create headers, ebook and report covers, graphic software boxes; low cost alternative to PhotoShop...

[essmeier]

I make ecovers by sending e-mail to Andy at ecovergeeks.com and sending him money by PayPal. Works well and provides better results than if I tried to do it myself.

Charlie

[vic_msn]

if you have photoshop, you can download some thing called
as action script that will convert your flat images to ecovers or boxes
its very easy...search google for ecover action scripts..

[Steven Carl Kelly]

I have run a WSO here making e-covers for $9.95 each, so you can find quality covers at a very low price. It may be simply easier and cheaper to outsource your covers to someone who does a good job at a reasonable price.

[sylviad]

Some Warriors seem to be making the assumption that you want to do them yourself either to save money or because you don't know how covers are created.

Designing book covers yourself can be lots of fun, especially if you have some creative talent to pull from. Over time, your skills will improve. And what better way to get the experience than designing covers for yourself?

The software you choose will depend on your ultimate goal. Do you just want a few covers for yourself, or do you think that sometime down the road you will want to sell them?

If you are doing them strictly for yourself, then any of the suggestions made will work for you. If you expect to sell your creations, your best option would be Photoshop. Why? Because then, you can provide your buyers with the Photoshop files so they can modify them for their own needs. That's what many people want. The graphics... AND the file that created them.

Photoshop does have a learning curve, and it is relatively expensive to purchase. Look around for people selling the software and you'll get a much better deal than going straight to Adobe or one of its distributors.

You don't need the latest version to do what you want.

Be careful of some of the free programs available. In my experience, the results are terrible.

Sylvia


Sylvia

[RichardDean]

Hello,

Here is a free software program to make eCover book or software box

http://www.mindcontrolscroll.com/250...ersoftware.zip

Templates you can use for the software

http://www.mindcontrolscroll.com/250250/250_temps.zip

Hope that helps

Richard Dean

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by abuhakim

I've found that you get what you pay for. The "Free" and "cheap" produce more or less generic looking ebook covers. Mostly it;s because they're just using old book style templates.

Since I'm a web-designer, I have access to Photoshop and a bunch of Action eBook Action Scripts. When I don't feel like designing a layout from scratch, I use a program called Extreme 3D Covers.

It comes complete with ebook, box, cd, PC screen templates. You basically format a graphic for size and paste it on. The software created the 3D, shadows, reflections etc.

I really like that this program you mentioned comes with all the templates since I'm not a graphic designer. Are the results you get with ebook cover software, ebook covers, ebook cover tempaltes, cd covers, cd cover templates as good as you would get using a script with Photoshop, or is it kind of funky?

Thanks
Steve

[Kevin Barnes]

CoverAction Pro!!! its all you need to do it yourself

[dzoy2008]

I can create for you one for free (3D ecovers).. PM me if you interested including the ebook title. Why free..just for fun

[Minisite Frog]

I'm with Kevin! Can't believe someone hasn't mentioned CAP earlier

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by Kevin Barnes

CoverAction Pro!!! its all you need to do it yourself

I checked out Cover Action Pro and it looks good. Its also one of the more pricey ones too, but here is my dilemma...

Hmmm, how can I convey my dilemma?

Creating the kind of awesome ecovers I see on those sites using Photoshop and some scripts is about as realistic as handing me a box of brushes, paints and an easel and telling me to paint the Mona Lisa. I'm going to need a script that comes with TONS of templates that I can modify to suit me. I think it was Cover Action Pro that comes with 40 but that doesn't seem like enough to do what I want to do. Got any suggestions?

Thanks again.

Steve

[Ben Clemons]

check out Photoshop Actions - ebook Cover Software if you have Photoshop 7.0 or above.

It also comes with 40 full psd templates for you to use

[Dan C. Rinnert]

Originally Posted by magentawave

Creating the kind of awesome ecovers I see on those sites using Photoshop and some scripts is about as realistic as handing me a box of brushes, paints and an easel and telling me to paint the Mona Lisa. I'm going to need a script that comes with TONS of templates that I can modify to suit me. I think it was Cover Action Pro that comes with 40 but that doesn't seem like enough to do what I want to do. Got any suggestions?

If that's your situation, you might just want to outsource your eCover design. You could spend a lot of time trying out different templates and getting the look you want, but that time might be better spent doing things that you are skilled at. You might do better to spend that time creating additional content, other eBooks, etc., and outsource the cover design work.

[Erum Munir]

If you have Photoshop try 3DEcovers.

There is also a free one on the website so you can check that out first to see if it will work you.

[Marian]

Guys, Jordan is looking for a good and cheap or free way to do the covers. Actions scripts are great but you have to have pricey Photoshop installed ;-)

This thread is too old, here another - similar with some tips> Free E-Cover Software

Marian

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by Marian

Guys, Jordan is looking for a good and cheap or free way to do the covers. Actions scripts are great but you have to have pricey Photoshop installed ;-)

This thread is too old, here another - similar with some tips> Free E-Cover Software

Marian

I'm not necessarily looking for something free because the free ones I've seen so far seem to produce some pretty amateurish results. My issue is not in creating the covers, but it is the designing of the covers. They all show you on their sites these amazing looking covers they crank out in three minutes, but unless you have the graphics and the graphic design knowledge - or lots of ready made templates you can modify to suit you, well, its going to take you a lot longer. However, I clicked on your link above and one of the people said they look at regular books in stores to get ideas for creating their ecovers - and that is an excellent idea!

So thanks for posting that link.

Steve

[Raydal]

My vote is for Box Shot 3D in terms of price and ease of use.
I did this cover in about 10 minutes.

[ecoverartist]

If you want to get some really nice covers done, check out the ones at www.ecoverartist.com/portfolio/ I've done hundreds upon hundreds of covers for fellow Warriors - and with a 30 day money back guarantee, you really can't go wrong. It's much faster than trying to learn an ecover software program on your own (or forking over the big bucks for photoshop and using an action script!)

[Didier Faucher]

Originally Posted by Kevin Barnes

CoverAction Pro!!! its all you need to do it yourself

CAP or any other action scripts set won't create the initial design for you.


Didier

[magentawave]

Originally Posted by Didier Faucher

CAP or any other action scripts set won't create the initial design for you.

Didier

Exactly! And that is the little thing they don't tell you because 95% of the work involved in making an ecover would be finding, or creating, and then modifying the graphics BEFORE you would ever fire up the ecover maker. And IF you are using a stand alone ecover program, then you are still going to need something like Photoshop to create the images or hire someone to do it for you.

Can anyone recommend some great free or inexpensive sources for images besides the usual istockphoto.com, et al?

Thanks again.
Steve

[OaldDesign]

hey i dont sure if you still need an ebook but if you do you can check out my portfolio in my sig i can make ebook for you for only 8$
thanks and good luck with that

[Jesus Perez]

With Photoshop + BoxShot3D I was able to make the following:



And

[Chris Parker]

There is also a great video tutorial the explains how to create your own rBook covers utilizing free open source software. They give you templates for free as well. You can view the video at www.eCoverTutorial.com. I hope this is helpful.

[DrewG]

I've always used Cover Action Pro for eCovers, and it always gives me the highest quality.

[denzel Durant]

I cant say enough good things about coverscorp. he will do a great looking ecover for $19! The website is coverscorp[dotcom]

[RichPargeter]

I use Photoshop and have recently bought Photoshop Action Scripts, which produces great results.

There are many scripts and programs out there but you still need to come up with the design in the first place. If you're no good at design I'd look in to hiring someone.